Time to read 2 mins
We use a lot of herbs in our cooking and drinks.
To save space in the greenhouse and the garden, I use this vertical herb planter (Amazon affiliate link which means I receive a small percentage of any items purchased through my link).
It attaches to any wall and can be used indoor or outdoor. What’s neat about these is that they store excess water in the base of the planter, away from the roots of the plant, so when the soil gets dry, it draws from the reservoir at the bottom. I have had these for many years now and they are still serving me well, attached to the outside of the house, near the kitchen.

Drying herbs
I am trying to be more organised and do a big cut and dry out of my herbs at the start of each season, as opposed to before when we used to scramble to dry and prepare herbs when we had run out of a particular herb or I would cut the plants only when it had overgrown.
Regularly pruning ensures there is always a steady stream of freshly dried herbs- which is significantly more flavoursome than the dried herbs from the supermarket. Who knows how long those herbs had sat on those supermarket shelves and dried herbs tend to lose their flavour over time.
I air dry herbs by hanging in sprigs or in a net bag. Takes about one to two weeks. Then I use my trusted mortar and pestle to crush.




Making Rosemary Salt
Another great use of homegrown herbs is rosemary (or any particulary aromatic herb you are partial to) salt. I like to peruse the online menus of posh restaurants to see how they serve their dishes and I this is how I found the idea of rosemary salt. It is as delicious as it sounds used obviously in cooking, but I specifically like to sprinkle a bit at the dinner table, sprinkled on roast potatoes or chips.
To make, course salt- I used sea salt, is ground together with a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, store in a sealed container.



I love growing herbs to use both fresh and dried. They add a depth of flavour to well-loved dishes without any additional calories. I would encourage everyone to grow and use their own herbs in cooking.
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